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Product Design A-Level at The Nottingham Emmanuel School

Course description

This course has been designed to provide opportunities for students to develop their creativity, capability and entrepreneurial skills; to apply knowledge and understanding of a range of technological activities and to develop critical thinking and collaborative
skills. Product Design combines theory with practice and academic study with design skills and practical application. In particular, this course allows students to:

Develop and sustain innovation, creativity and design and technology capability, to recognise constraints and to produce high quality products

Develop critical understanding of the influences of the processes and products of design and technological activity from a historical perspective and in current practice

Apply essential knowledge, understanding and skills of design production processes to a range of technological activities and develop an understanding of industrial practices

Use information and communications technology (ICT) to enhance their design and technological capability

Course content

The course is comprised of two units at AS and two units at A2:

Unit 1: The 'design and make' activity. Students select their own context, from which they must design and make a product that meets the original context/need. This unit results in the development of an appropriate product supported by a design folder.

Unit 2 Knowledge and Understanding of Product Design. There will be a 2-hour examination paper.

Unit 3: A ‘design and make’ activity which is more complex and involves more processes than at AS level. This unit results in the development of an appropriate product supported by a design folder.

Unit 4: Further Knowledge and Understanding of Product Design and Management. There will be a 2 hour examination. The examination will be available in the summer of each examination series.

Entry requirements

Students should have a minimum of a Grade C at GCSE level in one of the technology disciplines Where this course has not been studied at GCSE, a short interview will be required with the Head of Department/Director of Sixth Form

Further information

This is a course designed for students who have a passion for design. This is a challenging course as students will not only need to be able to design and make quality products but will also need to be able to communicate at a high level. Students will need
to be able to communicate their ideas using mixed media such as traditional drawing skills and high tech CAD packages as well as being able to research problems and work independently.

How to apply

If you want to apply for this course, you will need to contact The Nottingham Emmanuel School directly.